NFL Week 1 Top Bets on the Total Line

 As part of my weekly coverage of the NFL 2021 regular season for the popular sports betting site ScoresandStats.com, I will be posting my top five plays on each Sunday's total line. Heading into Week 1, I have reposted my 'best bet' picks from the site:

Sunday, Sept. 12

Philadelphia Eagles at Atlanta Falcons: UNDER 48

The Eagles start the season with a new head coach and starting quarterback after slipping to just four straight-up wins last season. The Falcons still have veteran gunslinger Matt Ryan under center as one of the more prolific passers in the NFL.

The betting consensus leans slightly towards the OVER in this NFC matchup but I am not quite sure the final combined score adds up to more than 48 points. The total has stayed UNDER in seven of the last eight meetings in Atlanta. It has also stayed UNDER in the last five meetings overall.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills: UNDER 48.5

Pittsburgh is the third choice in the AFC North Division title race with Ben Roethlisberger still at the helm as the starting quarterback. Josh Allen and the high-flying Bills are a popular choice to win the AFC title this season.

This is another game were the early lean goes slightly towards the OVER. While Buffalo should be able to put points on the board, Pittsburgh could struggle on offense. The total has stayed UNDER in five of the last six meetings in this AFC clash. It has also stayed UNDER in six of Buffalo’s last eight season openers.

Cleveland Browns at Kansas City Chiefs: OVER 53

The featured AFC showdown in Week 1 could be filled with fireworks at Arrowhead Stadium. Cleveland is another team with strong aspirations for a Super Bowl run. Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes is looking for a fast start after last year’s nine-point effort in Super Bowl LV.

This game has one of the strongest leans towards the OVER on an already inflated 53-point total line. However, I am taking the bait. The total has gone OVER in the Chiefs last five season openers. It has gone OVER in 14 of their last 20 September games.

Green Bay Packers at New Orleans Saints: OVER 50

This game has been moved to Jacksonville in the wake of Hurricane Ida. That could be a welcomed distraction for New Orleans while the pressure will be dialed up on Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers to get out of the gate quickly with a fast start.

With the total set at 50, the early money has gone towards the OVER. Jameis Winston takes over as the Saints’ starting quarterback for the retired Drew Brees and I think he will have some success scoring points against the Packers this Sunday afternoon. The total has gone OVER in nine of the last 10 meetings in this NFC tilt.

Chicago Bears at Los Angeles Rams: UNDER 44

The final Sunday game in Week 1 marks the debut of veteran Andy Daulton for the Bears and Matthew Stafford for the Rams as each team’s new starting quarterback. However, the play of each team’s defense could determine the ultimate outcome.

There is a strong consensus towards the UNDER in this game and I tend to agree. The total has stayed UNDER in 11 of the Rams’ last 15 games. It has also stayed UNDER in six of the last eight games between these two NFC foes.

 

College Football Week 1 OVER/UNDER 'Best Bets'

 The 2021 college football season got underway last Saturday with a select schedule of games. This Saturday is the real deal with more than 60 games on the state.

One of my tasks for ScoresandStats.com was to come up with my Top 5 OVER/UNDER bets for Saturday's games. After digging deep into the stats, facts and betting trends for these Week 1 matchups, I was able to find five solid plays on the total line.

I covered some major bases including Alabama's opener against Miami (FLA) to begin the Crimson Tide's defense of last season's national title. I also covered Saturday's biggest showdown on the slate with the SEC's Georgia Bulldogs taking on the ACC's Clemson Tigers.

Georgia is ranked No. 5 in the preseason rankings and Clemson is ranked third in the nation. The winner of this game will have the early in-side track for a playoff spot this season.

I also game up with three more games of interest covering most of the major conferences in Division IA football.

                                   Top 5 Bets (as posted on ScoresandStats.com)

Penn State Nittany Lions at Wisconsin Badgers UNDER 50

Penn State is hoping to challenge Ohio State  for the top spot this season in the Big Ten East Division standings. The Nittany Lions face a stiff test right out of the gate with an opening day road game against the West Division Wisconsin Badgers as the second-best Big Ten team this season.

The Lions are set as 4.5-point road underdogs on this game’s point spread. The total has stayed UNDER in nine of their last 10 games on the road.  The total also stayed UNDER in four of Wisconsin’s last five Big Ten games. Defense plays tough for both teams on Saturday.

West Virginia Mountaineers at Maryland Terrapins UNDER 56.5

Going back to the glory days of the old Big East, this should be and interesting opener at College Park. Out of the Big 12, West Virginia gets the nod as a three-point road favorite against a middle-of-the-road Big Ten team.

The total has stayed UNDER four of the Mountaineers’ last five season openers. The Terrapins ended last season with the total staying UNDER in six of their final seven games. It has also stayed UNDER in each of their last five Saturday games.

Alabama Crimson Tide at Miami (FLA) Hurricanes OVER 61.5

Alabama’s re-tooled offense will be looking for that fast start out of the blocks as the defending national champion. Give credit to the ACC’s Hurricanes for scheduling such a tough test for their first game of the year.

As an elite SEC program, the Tide should be able to get close to this total line on their own. The total has gone OVER in eight of their last 12 Saturday games on the road. As an 18.5-point road favorite, the early betting consensus leans heavily toward Alabama covering that number.

Texas Tech Red Raiders at Houston Cougars OVER 64

This in-state battle will be a great test for the Red Raiders as one of the longshots to win the Big 12 this season. Houston is in the top five to win the AAC this year. While each team is known for scoring points, this matchup could be more of a defensive battle than expected.

The total has stayed UNDER in eight of the Red Raiders’ last nine games closing as favorites. They are 13-1 straight-up in their last 14 season openers. The total stayed UNDER in four of Houston’s final five games of the 2020 season.

Georgia Bulldogs at Clemson Tigers UNDER 51.5

The game of the day will have major ramifications for this season’s college football playoff situation. Georgia needs to win this game more than Clemson and the only way that happens is by outscoring the Tigers. Clemson’s offense should pick up where it left off.

The total has gone OVER in four of Georgia’s last six games as an underdog.  It has also gone OVER in five of Clemson’s last seven season openers. It went OVER in six of the Tigers’ last seven games played.

 

Betting a Pacific Classic Trifecta

 In what should be on of the best race cards this summer horse racing season, the 2021 Pacific Classic highlights Saturday's card at Del Mar Racetrack in Southern California. This Grade 1 stakes race has a total prize purse of $750,000 as a "win and you are in" qualifier for this year's Breeders' Cup Classic at that same track in early November.

There are a total of five major graded events on the card at Del Mar this Saturday. The Del Mar Handicap on turf for Thoroughbreds three and older is also part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series as a "win and you are in" event for the BC Longines Turf.

The other three major stakes events this Saturday are the Del Mar Mile, Del Mar Oaks and the Torrey Pines Stakes. The total prize money up for grabs in these five races totals $1.75 million.

As part of my weekly horse racing coverage for the popular sports betting site ScoresandStats.com, I broke down the nine-horse field for this year's Pacific Classic to come up with my top trifecta play. 

This is a tough call with a deep field of contenders. At least four of these horses have a legitimate shot to win this year's Pacific Classic. Yet, cream still tends to rise to the top in one of the biggest stakes races of the year. Below is my official trifecta play.

Top Choice

Realistically, there are four entries in this race with a chance to win. I decided to stretch the odds a bit with Dr. Post as my top choice to win. Trained by Todd Pletcher, this four-year old Kentucky-bred colt will break from the No. 3 post with Joel Rosario as his jockey.

Sired by Quality Road, he has been opened as a 4-1 third-favorite on the morning line. However, I was more than impressed with his recent victory on July 17 in the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup. He covered the 1 1/8 miles on dirt in 1:47.53. Earlier this year, he won the one mile Grade 3 Westchester Stakes at Belmont with a winning time of 1:35.14.

Second Choice

Trainer John Shirreff’s Express Train has been opened as a 3-1 favorite to win this race. I bumped him to my second choice breaking from the No. 5 post position with jockey Juan Hernandez on board.

This is another four-year old colt that looked sharp his last time out with a victory in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar on July 17. He posted a winning time of 1:43.17 over 1 1/16 miles on the dirt. The son of Union Rags has now finished in the money in each of his last six graded events.

Third Choice

Rounding out my trifecta play for this year’s Pacific Classic is Royal Ship as a 7-2 second-favorite on the betting board. After placing third in the San Diego Handicap, he will start this race from the fourth post. Trained by Richard Mandella, veteran jockey Mike Smith will get the ride.

The son of Midshipman is a five-year old gelding that was bred in Brazil. He has finished in the money in his last three races this year starting with a victory in the Grade 2 Californian Stakes at Santa Anita on April 17.

                                2021 Pacific Classic Preview & Trifecta Pick

                                     

NFL Preseason Week 1 Top 5 OVER/UNDER Bets

 The full schedule of NFL preseason games gets underway this Thursday night with all 32 teams in action over the next four days. As part of my NFL betting coverage for the popular sports betting site, Scores & Stats, I came up with five OVER/UNDER plays for this first round of exhibition games.

Even with just three games on the schedule, most NFL head coaches are planning to use their starters sparingly in this opening round of the preseason. This is especially true when it comes to their starting quarterback.

With a team's best offensive players on the sidelines, the scoreboards tend to remain rather quiet. That is why four of my top 5 total line plays favor the UNDER despite the numbers already being set rather low. However, there is one game on the list that does have a good chance of going OVER based on the recent betting trends.

Below is a link to my Top 5 OVER/UNDER bets for the first full week of the 2021 NFL preseason:

                      ScoresandStats.com Top 5 Total Line Plays for NFL Week 1- Preseason

CFL Week 2 Best Bets

 The CFL is back in action after taking last season off. That means I have once again teamed up with Vegas Insider to bring you my "best bet" pick each week's games.

The rust was evident last week during the season openers with a couple of big upsets on the board. Both Hamilton and Calgary lost their openers straight-up as favorites on the closing point spread. British Columbia came up just short in its comeback bid against Saskatchewan but the effort was good enough to cover with the points.

The rust was also evident with my picks in those three games but I am expecting a much more productive effort this week.

Below is the link to the CFL Week 2 picks at Vegas Insider:

                              CFL Week 2 Game Odds, Preview & Picks

NFL Hall of Fame Game Betting Preview

 It is hard to get too excited for the first NFL preseason game of the year but we have to start somewhere. The Dallas Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers kick things off this Thursday night with a matchup in the annual Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio.

The best bet for this game is little or no playing time for each team's starters. As far as the actual betting lines, Pittsburgh remains a 1.5-point favorite as the designated home team. The total line for Thursday's 8 p.m. (ET) start on FOX is set at 33 points.

I actually like Dallas in this game given that the Cowboys need a win far more than Pittsburgh after sliding to 6-10 last season. Even though this game means nothing in the standings, getting a new season off to a winning start would signal a fresh start in Big D.

For my full game preview and betting pick for Thursday night's Hall of Fame Game, please click the link below to ScoresandStats.com as one of the most popular sports betting sites for avid bettors.

                                         2021 NFL Hall of Fame Game Preview & Picks

As a bonus play on a popular NFL player futures bet, I also added a link to my betting picks for most passing touchdowns in the 2021 regular season.

                                                2021 NFL Passing Touchdowns Leader

Top 5 NBA Draft Prop Bet Picks

 The 2021 NBA Draft takes place this Thursday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The general consensus among NBA draft gurus is that former Oklahoma State standout Cade Cunningham will be the first overall pick.

Most online sportsbooks tend to agree given his current -10000 odds to end up with the Detroit Pistons, who are on the clock first. Jalen Green is a heavy -500 favorite to be drafted second by the Houston Rockets. 

Evan Mobley should go third to the Cleveland Cavaliers behind -400 odds and the Toronto Raptors are expected to draft Jalen Suggs (-200) with the fourth overall pick. Rounding out the Top 5 picks is Scottie Barns at -225 odds with the Orlando Magic on the clock.

After that, things start to open up a bit. As part of my first round draft coverage for the popular sports betting site ScoresandStats.com, I came up with five draft position props that offer the best value in their posted odds.

                                     2021 NBA Draft Position Prop Bet Odds & Free Picks